More than 10,000 troops marched through Tiananmen Square in Beijing last week, accompanied by a large number of advanced weapons, supposedly to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war, but actually to demonstrate China's transformation from the sick man of Asia to an emerging superpower.

Anthony Albanese’s trip to China echoed visits by previous prime ministers Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser.

The euphemisms were flying when Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles announced last week that an extra $50 billion would be spent on our military over the next decade, and that $72.8 billion of already announced spending would be redirected.

Labor recently said goodbye to one of its heroes, Bill Hayden, sometimes referred to as the greatest prime minister Australia never had. He was pushed aside as party leader by Bob Hawke in 1983. Soon after, Hawke was elected to replace Malcolm Fraser as PM. As Hayden memorably put it in a moment of bitterness, 'a drover's dog' could have led Labor to victory at that time, but in the end it was a silver bodgie who took the prize.

The overseas-born population in Australia has increased to nearly 30% of the nation’s total population, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Anthony Albanese missed out on the B-52s, but he did talk to lots of people about nuclear submarines on his latest trip to the USA. He also made announcements about cybersecurity, minerals and technology sharing.

In 2007 local artist Marie Sherd took a month-long trip to Tibet to discover for herself what conditions were like for Tibetans. The result was a book Friends in High Places.

As the Anzac myth spreads its strange, schizophrenic glow over the country, in which war is not glorified but stone soldiers on plinths are honoured with music and prayers by the religious and secular alike, it’s a good time to consider our enemies, then and now. Because without enemies, war is impossible.

The year of the Water Rabbit starts on January 22. The rabbit is a symbol of long life, peace and prosperity. It’s a year of hope.

For decades, we have been engaged in the old cold war battle between capitalism and communism.